Need prompts food pantry opening in Sherman

By Jen Lynds, BDN Staff

Posted Dec. 19, 2008, at 7:29 p.m.

SHERMAN, Maine — The economic crisis affecting the nation has not left the Sherman area untouched, and officials with the Upper Valley Economic Council are responding to the increased need by becoming an emergency assistance food recipient and opening a food pantry.

The pantry will be housed in the Sherman Municipal Building and is open for food distribution on the third Tuesday of each month. It began on Dec. 16.

The Upper Valley Economic Council is an organization of community and business leaders in Sherman and Stacyville. The UVEC provides startup, expansion and relocation assistance to the business community, and also assists Stacyville and Sherman with funding resources for their communities and organizations.

Jeff Packard, office manager at UVEC, said the shelves of the shelter are being stocked.

“Need” was the one major reason to open the pantry, Packard said recently.

“There is an increased need for assistance in this area, and the pantry is going to help that,” he said. “Until now, the closest emergency assistance food pantry was in Ludlow or Houlton.”

Packard said that with the price of gasoline, traveling to those pantries was costly. Now, area residents can drop by the food pantry.

“This is open to everyone in the area,” he said. “Going to Ludlow or Houlton for food is a long way to travel, especially for an elderly citizen. This is going to be a huge benefit to the area.”